How to Identify a Factory Built Home - All Types

MEMORANDUM
DATE: July 1, 2015
TO:
Whom It May Concern
FROM: C. Patrick Walker, P.E.
Technical Services Manager
Manufactured Building Division
RE:
Factory Built Home Identification
How Can I Identify the Type of Factory Built Home that I have?
DATA PLATES
Factory Built Home Identification - DATA PLATES
1. The first and most important piece of information you should try to find regarding your home is the home’s
Data Plate.
2. Search the inside of your home to see if you can find the DATA PLATE still attached to it. It will be
located permanently attached to your home in a protected location. If you find it, it contains all the
information you will need regarding your home.
3. All Factory Built Homes, both HUD and Modular homes, have a Data Plate permanently attached to them
when they are constructed.
a. Many times Data Plates may have been painted over or removed during home renovations after the
initial sale of the home.
4. What does a Data Plate look like?
a. Data Plates are normally an 8 ½”x11” laminated or otherwise protected piece of paper
“permanently” glued/attached to the home on the inside of the structure. See Figures 1 and 2 for
Examples of HUD(manufactured homes) Data Plates and Figures3 and 4 for MOD (modular homes)
Data Plates
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Figure 1 – HUD
Figure 3 – MOD (modular)
Figure 2 – HUD
Figure 4 – MOD (modular)
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5. Where are Data Plates normally located?
a. Kitchen Cabinets
i. Check around the cabinet area below the Kitchen Sink first.
ii. Glued to the Kitchen Sink Cabinet Door. See Figure 5
iii. Glued just inside the Cabinet beside the Kitchen Sink Cabinet Door. See Figure 6
iv. Glued to the Wall Directly Beneath the Kitchen Sink.
v. Check the doors of your overhead cabinets. See Figure 7
b. Clothes Closet
i. Glued to the Wall of a Clothes Closet – Normally Master bedroom closet. See Figures 8, 9
c. Electrical Panel Box – Less common location these days
Figure 5
Figure 8
Figure 9
6. What Information can be found on a Data Plate?
a. Manufacturer Name and Address
b. Date of Manufacture
Figure 6
Figure 7
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c. Serial Number
d. Model Number
e. Code Certification – Identifies the NC State Building Code or Federal HUD Manufactured Housing
Code in effect at time of construction
f. Design Information – Roof Loads, Floor Loads, Wind Loads
g. Installed Equipment Information – Type, Brand, Model
h. Name of the Third Party Certification Agency that approved, inspected, labeled the Home.
i. HUD Label Number – If Home is a HUD Manufactured Home
i. The First Three Letters of the HUD Label number indicates who the Third Party Certification Agency
(or State) that Approved, Inspected and Labeled HUD Home
ii. i.e. NTA, HWC, TRA, RAD, GEO (Georgia), TEN (Tennessee), etc.
j. State Modular Label Number - If Home is a Modular Home
k. Third Party Agency Modular Certification Label Numbers – If Home is a Modular Home
l. Special Instructions regarding Home
7. I have found my Data Plate, How can I tell if it is a HUD or MOD home?
a. Your Home IS A HUD Manufactured home:
i.
If “HUD” or Federal Housing and Urban Development are mentioned anywhere on the Data Plate.
ii.
If there are three United States Maps on the Data Plate indicating: Basic Wind Zone Map; Basic
Roof Design Zone Map; and U/O Value Zone Map (Thermal Zones) See Figure 1 and 2
b. Your Home IS A MODULAR home:
i.
If the Data Plate indicates any “NC State Label” number on it – Normally only one NC State Label
is applied per home regardless of number of modular units.
ii.
If the home has a Modular Label from another state, it is still a modular unit. It was just approved
and labeled through that state’s modular construction program.
iii.
If the Data Plate indicates any Third Party Certification Agency Modular Label Numbers on it.
1. Normally one 3rd Party Modular Label will be applied on each modular unit.
iv.
If Modular is mentioned anywhere on your Data Plate.
v.
If your data plate has no United States maps on it.
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vi.
If your data plate referenced compliance to volumes of the North Carolina State Building Code. i.e.
Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical. (or some other State’s Code)
c. Your Home will be a Pre-HUD mobile home if it was built prior to June 15, 1976 when the HUD
program started.
i.
North Carolina had a Mobile Home labeling program which ran from July 1, 1970 until the HUD
program started in June 15, 1976. See Figure 10
1.
Mobile Homes constructed under the NC Program were constructed to the USAS A119.1
Standard for Mobile Homes. See Figure 11. This Standard would have been referenced on the
home’s Data Plate.
2. On NC labeled Mobile Homes, the data plate would display a Wind Load Map as shown in
Figure 12.
ii.
Other Pre-HUD mobile homes not manufactured under the NC Mobile Home Program were also
usually constructed to the USAS A119.1 Standard for Mobile Homes. See Figure 11. This
Standard would have been referenced on the home’s Data Plate.
1. On those other Pre-HUD mobile homes your data plate would also probably display a Wind
Load Map as shown in Figure 12.
Figure 10
Figure 11
Figure 12
d. Depending upon the age of your HUD Manufactured Home, you may be able to obtain a replacement
DATA PLATE from the home’s manufacturer or from the HUD approved Third Party Certification
Agency (PIA) or from IBTS (Institute for Building Technology and Safety)(a HUD subcontractor) may
be able to provide you additional information regarding your HUD home. www.IBTS.org (703-4812000)
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e. Depending upon the age of your Modular Home, you may be able to obtain a replacement DATA
PLATE from the home’s Manufacturer or the home’s NC approved Third Party Certification Agency.
f. North Carolina began collecting copies of Data Plates on all Modular homes manufactured since August
2010. We will be able to provide you a replacement copy of your Data Plate if your home was
manufactured since that time period. Manufactured Building Division of the NC Department of
Insurance. (919-661-5880) www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/Manufactured_Building.aspx
LABELS
Search the inside and outside of your home to see what kind of Labels that are still attached to it.
HUD Manufactured Home – HUD Label
1. A HUD label is a certification label that certifies that the manufactured home was constructed and inspected
in the plant and that it conforms to the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards. (See
Figures 13 and 14)
2. If you find a HUD label on your home, it is a HUD manufactured home (formally called a mobile home, or
trailer)
3. A HUD label is an approximately 2”x4” painted red aluminum metal plate with the HUD certification and
label number etched into it. It is “permanently” attached to the outside of the unit (see Figure 13). Over
time, the red paint can fade out to a gray/silver look. (See Figure 14)
Figure 13
4. HUD Label Number – If Home is a HUD Manufactured Home
i.
Figure 14
The First Three Letters of the HUD Label number indicates who the HUD approved Primary Inspection
Agency (or State) that Inspected and Labeled the HUD Home in the plant.
1. Examples: HWC = Hilborn, Werner, Carter & Associates, Inc.; PFS = PFS Corporation; NTA =
NTA, Inc.; RAD = RADCO; TRA = T. R. Arnold and Associates, Inc.; GEO = the state of
Georgia; TEN = the state of Tennessee; etc.
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a. Figure 13 was inspected by the State of Tennessee (TEN), Figure 14 was inspected by
RADCO (RAD)
ii.
If you have a HUD Label number, you can use the first three letters of the HUD Label number to
identify the HUD approved Primary Inspection Agency that inspected that home. The Primary
Inspection Agency may be able to provide you additional information regarding your home. Contact
Information Below:
1. FLORIDA TYPE: IPIA
Chuck Smith
Program Manager
Bureau of MH/RV Construction
Division of Motor Vehicles
2900 Apalachee Parkway, Room A129
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0640
PH: (850) 617-2808
FAX: (850) 617-5191
Website: http://www.flhsmv.gov/mobilehome
2. GEORGIA TYPE: IPIA
Chris E. Stephens
Commissioner of Insurance
Manufactured Housing Section
Floyd Building, West Tower, Suite 620
2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
Atlanta, GA 30334-9000
PH: (404) 656-3687
FAX: (404) 657-6971
Website: http://www.oci.ga.gov/Firemarshal/ManufacturedHousing.aspx
3. HWC TYPE: IPIA/DAPIA
John Gustafson
Vice President, IPIA Director
Director of HUD Inspection Services
Hilborn, Werner, Carter and
Associates, Inc. (HWC)
1627 South Myrtle Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756-1131
PH: (727) 584-8151
FAX: (727) 587-0447
Website: http://www.hwceng.com
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4. NTA TYPE: IPIA/DAPIA
David A. Tompos
President
NTA, Inc.
305 North Oakland Avenue
P.O. Box 490
Nappanee, IN 46550-2341
PH: (574) 773-7975
FAX: (574) 773-2732
Website: www.ntainc.com
5. PFS TYPE: IPIA/DAPIA
James A. Rothman, P.E.
President
PFS Corporation
1507 Matt Pass
Cottage Grove, WI 53527-8962
PH: (608) 839-1344
FAX: (608) 839-1345
Website: http://www.pfscorporation.com
6. RADCO TYPE: IPIA/DAPIA
Michael L. Zimmerman, P.E., President
RADCO
3220 E. 59th Street
Long Beach, CA 90805-4502
PH: (562) 272-7231
Fax: (562) 529-7513
Website: http://www.radcoinc.com
7. TENNESSEE TYPE: IPIA
Charles Chambers, Director of Manufactured Housing
Department of Commerce and Insurance
State Fire Marshal's Office
State of Tennessee
500 James Robertson Parkway, Tenth Floor
Nashville, TN 37243-1162
PH: (615) 741-7192
FAX: (615) 741-9388
Website: http://www.tn.gov/fire/manufactHouse.shtml
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8. TRA TYPE: IPIA/DAPIA
Robert W. Tanger, President
T.R. Arnold and Associates, Inc.
700 East Beardsley Avenue, Suite 2A
P.O. Box 1081
Elkhart, IN 46514-3303
PH: (574) 264-0745
FAX: (574) 264-0740
Website: http://trarnold.com
5. HUD homes will have one HUD label attached to each transportable section.
6. All HUD Label numbers will be listed on the home’s Data Plate.
7. The HUD Label is required to be attached approximately one foot above the floor level and approximately
one foot from the end of the unit which is opposite the end of the unit where the hitch was attached to the
frame.
a. Single wide homes will be label on the end of the home opposite the hitch. (see Figure 15)
b. Double wide homes – Each section will be labeled on the front or back side of the home, opposite the
hitch end. (see Figure 16)
Figure 15
Figure 16
8. Other than a Data Plate, which is common to all factory built structures, the HUD Label is the ONLY label
you will find on a HUD labeled home. If you find other types of labels, you may have something other than
a HUD home. Further investigation will be required.
9. On August 11, 1982, the name changed at the Federal level from Mobile Home to Manufactured Home to
reflect the more permanent nature of the homes being constructed.
a. The Federal Mobile Home Program became the Federal Manufactured Housing Program.
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b. The Federal Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards became the Federal Manufactured
Housing Construction and Safety Standards.
c. The Federal Program itself did not change.
10. If you have a HUD Label number, the Manufactured Building Division of the NC Department of Insurance
may be able to provide you additional information regarding your home. (919-661-5880)
www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/Manufactured_Building.aspx
11. If you have a HUD Label number, IBTS (Institute for Building Technology and Safety) (a HUD
subcontractor) may be able to provide you additional information regarding your HUD home. www.IBTS.org
(703-481-2000)
Pre-HUD Mobile Homes Labels – NC Labeled Mobile Homes
1. The HUD Federal Mobile Home Program started on June 15, 1976. Homes constructed prior to that date
are commonly referred as pre-HUD homes.
a. North Carolina had a Mobile Home labeling program before the HUD Mobile Home Program which ran
from July 1, 1970 until the HUD program started in June 15, 1976.
i. Mobile Homes labeled under this program during that time period displayed a NC Mobile Home
Validating Stamp on it as shown in Figure 17.
ii. NC Mobile Home Validating Stamps were required to be located adjacent to the home’s Data Plate.
See Figure 18.
Figure 17
Figure 18
Modular Homes – Modular Construction Validating Stamps – Modular Labels
1. A North Carolina Modular Construction Validating Stamp is a certification label that certifies that the
modular home was constructed and inspected in the plant and that it conforms to the North Carolina
Modular Construction Program and the North Carolina State Building Code in effect at the time of
construction. (For Examples See Figures 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Figure 19
Figure 20
Figure 21
Figure 22
2. A North Carolina Modular label is approximately 2”x2” with a NC State Seal on a reflective silver
background.
3. It is required to be “permanently” attached on the inside of the home directly adjacent to the home’s data
plate.
4. For one and two family dwelling units, there will be Only One NC Modular Label for each dwelling unit. A
duplex home would have two modular labels, one for each dwelling unit.
5. The Modular Label number will be listed on the home’s Data Plate. If you find a Modular label on your
home, it is a Modular home.
6. Modular homes which have been labeled through another state’s modular program will have that state’s
modular label(s) attached to it. It is still a modular home. It was constructed to that State’s Building Code
requirements. Placement in North Carolina is subject to approval by the local NC building official.
7. If you have a NC Modular Construction Validating Stamp number, the Manufactured Building Division of
the NC Department of Insurance may be able to provide you additional information regarding your home.
(919-661-5880) www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/Manufactured_Building.aspx
Modular Homes – Third Party Certification Agency Labels – (3rd Party Labels)
1. A Third Party Certification Agency Label is a certification label that certifies that the modular home was
constructed and inspected in the plant by the 3rd Party Inspection Agency and that it conforms to the North
Carolina Modular Construction Program and the North Carolina State Building Code. (See Figures 23, 24,
25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31 for examples of Third Party Labels.)
Figure 23
Figure 24
Figure 25
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Figure 26
Figure 29
Figure 27
Figure 30
Figure 28
Figure 31
2. A Third Party Certification Agency Modular Label can be any size, shape, or color but is normally around
2”x2” or 2”x3”.
3. Each Third Party Certification Agency Modular Label will have a unique number which is assigned to that
home.
4. Each Third Party Certification Agency Modular Label numbers will be listed on the home’s Data Plate
5. One Third Party Certification Agency Modular Label is required to be “permanently” attached on the inside
of each of the modular sections. They could be placed anywhere in that modular section. If there is not an
appropriate place to locate the Third Party Certification Agency Label in a modular unit, you may find that
the manufacturer may have placed that label adjacent to the home’s Data Plate.
6. You will NOT find a Third Party Certification Agency Modular Label on a HUD Home.
7. If you find a Third Party Certification Agency Modular Label on your home, it is a Modular home.
8. If you have a Third Party Certification Agency Modular Label number, the Third Party Agency may be able
to provide you additional information regarding your Modular home. 3rd Party Modular Agencies may be
contacted at the following:
a. Expert Modular Consultants 12315 Twin Branch Acres Road Tampa FL 33626 Mr. Robert A. Johnson
(813) 294-4412
b. HWCNC, P.C. 1627 S. Myrtle Avenue Clearwater FL 33756-1131 Mr. Scott Francis, P.E. (727) 5848151 (727) 586-3343
c. Modular Code Consultants, Inc. 25547 Bayberry Court Elkhart IN 46517 Mr. Michael Rogers (574)
875-1800 (574) 875-8427
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d. NTA, Inc. 305 N. Oakland Avenue Nappanee IN 46550 Mr. Chuck Osterday (574) 773-7975 (574) 7732732
e. PFS Corporation 1507 Matt Pass Cottage Grove WI 53527 Mr. James Rothman, P.E. (608) 839-1013
(608) 839-1014
f. Progressive Engineering, Inc. 58640 State Road 15 Goshen IN 46528 Mr. Ian Henderson (574) 5330337 (574) 533-9736
g. PYRAMID1, Inc. P.O. Box 463, 19260 C.R. 46 New Paris IN 46553 Mr. Andrew R. Carlson (574) 8314200 (574) 831-4209
h. RADCO, Inc. 3220 E. 59th Street Long Beach CA 90805 Mr. Michael Frey (813) 243-0370 (562) 5297513
i. T.R. Arnold & Assoc., Inc. P.O. Box 1081, 700 E. Beardsley Avenue Elkhart IN 46515 Mr. Nick Yost
(574) 264-0745 (574) 264-0740
9. If you have a Third Party Certification Agency Modular Label number, the Manufactured Building Division
of the NC Department of Insurance may be able to provide you additional information regarding your home.
(919-661-5880) www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/Manufactured_Building.aspx
SERIAL NUMBERS
Factory Built Home Identification – Serial Numbers
1. Every factory built home is assigned a SERIAL NUMBER by the manufacturer. This is true for both HUD
and Modular homes.
Example: a two section home might have a serial number such as 123456AB – Note: the A and B indicates
an A section and a B section and that this is a two section home. A three section home will have a C section
and the serial number would be 123456ABC.
2. Each transportable section of the home will have its own unique serial number. Normally it is the home’s
serial followed by an A, B, C, etc. depending on the number of sections it takes to make up the entire home.
For a two section home, the serial numbers of the A and B sections will be 123456A and 123456B.
3. The serial number will be indicated inside the house on the home’s DATA PLATE. Normally it the home
serial number followed by A, B, C, etc. as needed to indicate each section of the home. For the same two
section home, the serial number on the DATA PLATE will be 123456AB.
4. For HUD Homes ONLY, the serial number is required to be stamped into the steel cross member that the
hitch is attached to for each section of the home. For on-frame Modular Homes, you may find the serial
number stamped into the cross members but it is not required. Off-frame Modular Homes do not have steel
frames and therefore you will not find a serial number at this location. (see Figures 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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
Figure 32
Figure 34
Figure 35
5. Over time these serial numbers may be difficult to read.
Figure 33
Figure 36
Figure 37
6. When an HUD Manufactured Home or an on-frame Modular home is set on a masonry foundation it will be
difficult to see the serial number on the cross member due to the closeness of the cross member to the
perimeter masonry curtain wall.
7. If a DMV Title was ever issued for your home, most times the VIN number on the Title is the same as the
serial number of your home. Contact your local DMV office if you need Title assistance.
8. If you have a HUD SERIAL NUMBER, IBTS (Institute for Building Technology and Safety) (a HUD
subcontractor) may be able to provide you additional information regarding your HUD home. www.IBTS.org
(703-481-2000)
9. If you have a SERIAL NUMBER, the Manufactured Building Division of the NC Department of Insurance
may be able to provide you additional information regarding your home. (919-661-5880)
www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/Manufactured_Building.aspx
Sources for Obtaining Information
1. The best place to obtain information regarding your home is with the manufacturer. The manufacturer
creates a file for each home produced which contains such items as production order, approved plans, QA
check sheets, copy of the Data Plate, etc. This file is commonly called the Service File and is normally kept
in the Service Department at the plant facility which constructed your home. After a set period of years,
these files may be destroyed. If the plant facility which produced your home has closed, these service files
may have been transferred to another nearby plant facility of the same company or they may have been
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moved to the corporate office. If your plant facility has closed and there is no corporate office, then your
home’s service file has probably been destroyed or discarded. You should be able to get a replacement copy
of your home’s Data Plate from the manufacturer if you can locate your home’s service file.
2. The manufacturer’s Third Party Certification Agency (MOD) or Primary Inspection Agency (HUD) may be
able to assist you in obtaining information about your home if you can determine the name of that agency
and you can provide them with some basic information regarding your home which they can use to look up
in their records. The more information you can provide them the better. i.e. manufacturer’s name, serial
number, HUD label number, 3rd Party Mod Label number, State Modular Label number, etc. You may be
able to get a replacement copy of your home’s Data Plate from the 3rd Party Agency if they kept a copy in
their records. Contact information is listed above.
3. For HUD homes, IBTS (Institute for Building Technology and Safety), a HUD subcontractor, should be
able to provide you information regarding your home if you can provide them with some basic information
regarding your home which they can use to look up in their records. Depending on the age of your home,
you should be able to get a replacement copy of your home’s Data Plate from IBTS. IBTS can be contacted
at www.IBTS.org or 703-481-2000.